牛肉大理石花纹图像特征信息提取及自动分级方法

为了解决牛肉大理石花纹在人工分级中准确率和效率低的问题,该文基于计算机视觉和图像处理技术提出一种实用的牛肉大理石花纹自动评估和分级方法。通过图像解析,利用所提出的分级算法实现牛肉大理石花纹的快速提取,并计算反映大理石花纹丰富程度的10个特征参数。使用特征参数建立主成分回归模型,对牛肉大理石花纹等级进行预测,预测相关系数Rv=0.88,预测标准差SEP=0.56。校正时模型总体的回判正确率为97.0%,验证时总体的判别正确率为91.2%。在此基础上,开发了大理石花纹自动分级软件系统和硬件装置,并且在该试验室前期研制的样机上进行了试验,验证了算法的运算速度和准确率。结果表明,所提出的分级方法的检测速度和精度均能够满足企业中对牛肉大理石花纹分级的要求。     

牛肉大理石花纹计盒维和信息维的测定

对牛肉大理石花纹几何特征进行定量描述，是牛肉大理石花纹等级自动判定系统的关键技术。通过对牛肉大理石花纹图像分形特征的分析及分形维数的测定，试图以分形维对牛肉大理石花纹的分布特征进行定量描述。作者以中国及美国牛肉分级系统中的大理石花纹标准图版为研究对象，通过图像预处理，将其转化为二值数字图像，然后根据变粗视化程度的像素点覆盖法，编写出计盒维和信息维的测定程序，计算出上述每一幅图像在不同标尺下的非空盒个数及信息量，再根据标尺与非空盒个数及信息量的关系，分析图像的分形特征；通过回归分析的方法，测定出图像的计盒维数和信息维数。试验结果显示，在一定的标度范围内，牛肉大理石花纹标准图像具有分形性，并且显示出多重分形特征；图像的计盒维数和信息维数均呈现出随着牛肉大理石花纹等级的增加而增大的变化趋势。     

基于多尺度区间插值小波法的牛肉图像中大理石花纹分割

牛肉大理石花纹的丰富程度代表着脂肪含量的多少,是牛肉等级划分的重要指标。基于计算机图像的自动分级技术中图像的降噪和分割处理是大理石花纹提取的基础。该文利用多尺度区间插值小波解偏微分方程的方法对牛眼肌切面图像进行处理,基于中心相似变换的延拓方法有效解决边界效应。处理中自适应选取配置点,提高计算效率。试验证明,该算法不仅达到降噪目的,同时还实现了对不同对象区域的保边平滑,使图像纹理和边缘更加清晰。降噪结果与传统滤波法进行对比,峰值信噪比值平均比均值滤波高9.0 d B,比中值滤波高8.2 d B,比维纳滤波高6.6 d B,结构相似性数值平均比均值滤波高0.42,比中值滤波高0.40,比维纳滤波高0.34。与大津法相比,去噪后采用灰度进行图像分割的效果更好,既能分割出大脂肪,又能分割出小脂肪,提高了牛肉等级判定的准确度。     

基于改进ConvNeXt模型的黄羽鸡表皮层黑色素智能分级方法

为解决活体黄羽鸡表皮层黑色素分级方法成本高、效率低下、分级环境易受环境光干扰等问题,该研究探索一种基于ConvNeXt模型的黄羽鸡表皮层黑色素智能分级方法 ConvNeXt-WPCA,用于实现活体黄羽鸡表皮层黑色素智能分级。ConvNeXt-WPCA模型通过以下3点改进提高模型对黄羽鸡黑色素的识别效果：1）针对黄羽鸡黑色素图像RGB三通道内黑色素信息分布不均衡问题,改变输入图片通道权重来增强模型对黑色素特征的提取能力;2）使用部分卷积代替深度可分离卷积,减少模型计算量和内存访问次数提高对计算资源的利用率;3）引入坐标注意力机制,引导模型关注黄羽鸡胸腹部及肛门附近皮肤提升模型精度。同时,该研究还设计一种双光源图像获取装置,分别在自然光和偏振光条件下拍摄黄羽鸡样本,以减小分级结果受环境光干扰的影响,并探索偏振光在黑色素分级任务中的应用潜力。结果表明ConvNeXt-WPCA模型相较标准ConvNeXt模型,针对自然光下黄羽鸡黑色素图像数据集分级准确率提升9.68个百分点,最终达到89.03%的识别准确率,针对偏振光下黄羽鸡黑色素图像数据集分级准确率提升15.26个百分点,最终达到98.87...     

改进ResNet18网络模型的羊肉部位分类与移动端应用

针对传统图像分类模型泛化性不强、准确率不高以及耗时等问题,该研究构建了一种用于识别不同部位羊肉的改进ResNet18网络模型,并基于智能手机开发了一款可快速识别不同部位羊肉的应用软件。首先,使用数据增强方式对采集到的羊背脊、羊前腿和羊后腿肉的原始手机图像进行数据扩充;其次,在ResNet18网络结构中引入附加角裕度损失函数（ArcFace）作为特征优化层参与训练,通过优化类别的特征以增强不同部位羊肉之间的类内紧度和类间差异,同时将ResNet18网络残差结构中的传统卷积用深度可分离卷积替换以减少网络参数量,提高网络运行速度;再次,探究了不同优化器、学习率和权重衰减系数对网络收敛速度和准确率的影响并确定模型参数;最后,将该网络模型移植到安卓（Android）手机以实现不同部位羊肉的移动端检测。研究结果表明,改进ResNet18网络模型测试集的准确率高达97.92%,相比ResNet18网络模型提高了5.92%;把改进ResNet18网络模型部署到移动端后,每张图片的检测时间约为0.3 s。该研究利用改进ResNet18网络模型结合智能手机图像实现了不同部位羊肉的移动端快速准确分类,为促进羊肉的智能化检测及羊肉市场按质论价提供了技术支持。     

基于气流与多点激光技术的牛肉新鲜度检测装置研发

为了提高气流-激光技术在冷鲜肉品质检测方面的预测性能,该研究根据牛肉黏弹性与其品质的相关性,基于气流与多点激光技术研发了牛肉新鲜度检测装置。该装置硬件系统主要包括气流控制模块、位移信息采集模块、载物台升降模块和气室。基于该检测装置获取不同新鲜度牛肉样本的黏弹性信息,采用S-G卷积平滑（Savitzky-Golay smooth, S-G）、一阶导数处理（First derivative, FD）、一阶导数处理结合S-G卷积平滑（Savitzky-Golay smoothing after the first derivative pre-processing, FD+S-G）对样品黏弹性信息进行预处理,并测定牛肉新鲜度指标挥发性盐基总氮（Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen, TVB-N）含量, 建立了牛肉TVB-N含量的较佳预测模型。模型验证集的相关系数与均方根误差分别为0.859和1.337 mg/100 g。基于QT应用程序开发框架设计完成了检测装置控制软件,并将预测模型植入软件内部,实现了该检测装置的一键式操作。为验证检测装置稳定性进行外部验证试验,结果表明该检测装置预测值与国标测量参考值间相关系数为0.887,均方根误差为1.385 mg/100 g。该检测装置基于黏弹性原理实现了牛肉新鲜度的无损检测,预测性能较好,可以为肉品新鲜度检测提供参考。     

芒果双面成熟度在线检测分级系统

芒果属于后熟水果,芒果成熟度分级可为芒果后熟、加工、包装、运输等工作提供便利条件。针对芒果形状不规则,难以对整个外观进行检测的问题,该文提出了一种基于迁移学习的芒果双面成熟度在线检测分级系统。通过上、下层输送带将芒果运输到图像采集区域,分别获取正、反面图像;2层输送带之间利用柔性翻面机构实现芒果无损翻面,通过压缩试验及ANSYS软件建模分析芒果承受挤压力范围。合并正、反2张图像并进行预处理,将数据以8:1.5:1.5的比例拆分为训练集、验证集、测试集,并用迁移学习方法在卷积神经网络模型进行芒果成熟度分级。使用卷积神经网络模型对芒果成熟度分级平均准确率达到96.72%,系统测定单个样品的平均耗时为0.16s,研究结果为芒果成熟度在线分级提供参考。     

基于生物散斑图像和惯性矩谱分析的牛肉掺腐检测

牛肉掺假严重危害消费者的健康与经济利益,因此对牛肉掺假进行无损检测具有重要意义。该文基于生物散斑技术对牛肉掺假进行定量检测。试验将新鲜牛肉和非新鲜牛肉按不同比例(0、1%、3%、5%~60%(5%梯度)和100%)混合制备掺假样本,并采集样本的生物散斑图像。针对单列惯性矩(inertia moment,IM)表征样本生物活性存在稳定性差的问题,首次提出惯性矩谱(IM谱)分析的方法并用于建立基于支持向量回归机(support vector regression machine,SVR)的牛肉掺假检测模型。结果表明基于IM谱建立的SVR模型能较为准确预测牛肉中掺假物含量,校正集和测试集的决定系数分别为0.85和0.81,均方根误差分别为0.12和0.11。该研究证明了利用生物散斑技术和惯性矩谱分析方法对新鲜牛肉中掺杂腐败牛肉进行定量检测是可行的。     

用基于遗传算法的BP神经网络识别牛肉肌肉与脂肪

利用遗传算法的全局搜索能力,改进标准BP算法随机选取初始权重的不足,并构建了3-12-1的三层遗传BP神经网络,进行了3次牛肉肌肉与脂肪像素的分类试验,研究用BP网络对牛肉肌肉与脂肪两类像素点进行识别的可行性。以像素点的RGB值作为BP网络输入向量,每次训练集样本数62,测试集样本数43。测试的最终结果为：训练集的样本识别率分别为100%、100%、98.3871%;对应测试集的样本识别率分别为97.6744%、97.6744%、100%。试验结果表明,尽管基于遗传算法的BP神经网络对训练样本集以及测试样本集的肌肉和脂肪的识别率均在97%以上,但由于牛肉图像像素值在颜色空间中比较分散,有利于聚类的规律性不明显,因而是否可用BP网络来完成肌肉与脂肪的识别,还需要在网络拓扑结构、训练样本集等方面进一步研究。     

基于深度学习与图像处理的哈密瓜表面缺陷检测

针对传统人工检测哈密瓜表面缺陷效率低等问题,提出利用卷积神经网络(Convolutional Neural Networks, CNN)对哈密瓜表面缺陷进行快速检测。对原始图像进行主成分分析(Principal Components Analysis,PCA)、奇异值分解(Singular Value Decomposition, SVD)和二值化等预处理操作,通过数据扩充得到正常、霉菌、晒伤和裂纹的哈密瓜图像各2 500幅。构建一种改进的类似VGG卷积神经网络模型,将预处理后的图像输入模型,并使用随机梯度下降(StochasticGradient Descent,SGD)优化器进行算法优化,为探究CNN模型的特征提取原理,将改进的类似VGG模型每层卷积的特征进行可视化,最后利用开发的哈密瓜表面缺陷检测软件对模型进行试验验证。研究结果表明:图像预处理算法提高了模型的鲁棒性和泛化能力,改进的类似VGG模型优于Alex Net和VGG-16模型,其训练集和测试集准确率分别为100.00%和97.14%;对比预处理前后4类哈密瓜卷积特征可视化结果表明,随着卷积层层数的增加,哈密瓜表面缺陷特征越来越明显,图像预处理后卷积层特征提取效果优于原始图像提取效果。软件测试结果表明:静态下哈密瓜缺陷检测速率达到0.7 s/幅,识别准确率达到93.50%。研究结果可为哈密瓜表面缺陷在线检测技术提供理论依据和技术参考。     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Enhanced establishment and growth of giant cardon cactus in an eroded field in the Sonoran Desert using native legume trees as nurse plants aided by plant growth-promoting microorganisms and compost

To evaluate the feasibility of long-term desert reforestation technology of mixed vegetation, cardon cactus (Pachycereus pringlei) seedlings from indoor and outdoor nurseries were planted in the field adjacent to one seedling of potential legume nurse trees: mesquite amargo (Prosopis articulata), yellow palo verde (Parkinsonia microphylla), and blue palo verde (Parkinsonia florida). Some of the planting holes were also supplemented with common dairy compost. Additionally, the combinations of legume tree–cactus were inoculated with either a consortium of desert arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB; the diazotroph Azospirillum brasilense Cd, and the phosphate solubilizer Paenibacillus sp.), or a mixture of all. The field experiments were evaluated periodically during 30 months for survival and growth. Cardons reared in an outdoor screen house survived better in the field than those reared in a controlled growth chamber and hardened later outdoors. Association with any legume nurse tree increased survival and enhanced growth of untreated cardons. For cardons growing alone, application of either compost, AM fungi, and all the treatments combined increased survival. For these plants, no treatment affected plant growth during the first 3 months after transplanting. Later, all treatments, except for AM fungi, enhanced plant growth. However, only 2 years after transplanting the enhanced growth effect of AM fungi was also significant. In the presence of the legume nurse trees, transient positive effects on cardon growth were recorded. General evaluation after 30 months of cultivation showed that the treatments positively affected cardon growth when growing alone or in combination only with mesquite amargo but not with the other two legume trees. This study proposes that young legume trees have the capacity to enhance survival and growth of cardon cactus, depending on the legume cactus combination. Additional treatments such as compost or PGPB can either amplify the effect or else attenuate it.     

Karyotypic and genome size variation in Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. (pigeonpea) and some wild relatives

Detailed karyotypes and 4C DNA amounts have been studied in five cultivars of Cajanus cajan and 20 species belonging to Cajanus, Rhynchosia, Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx. C. cajan shows intraspecific variability and its karyotype is most similar to that of C. cajanifolius (sect. Cajanus) in the morphology and number of satellite chromosomes and the lack of any correlation between chromosome size within the complement and asymmetry. Karyotypes of C. lineatus and C. sericeus belonging to sect. Atylia are similar with respect to maximum r-index and the ratio of longest and shortest chromosomes in their respective complements. C. acutifolius (sect. Frutocosa) is distinct in having a very low ratio (1.44) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes, while in C. albicans, C. goensis, C. scarabaeoides (sect. Cantharospermum) there is no chromosome pair with r-index >2.0. C. mollis and C. volubilis (sect. Volubilis) show similarity with regard to ratio between the longest and the shortest chromosomes and a distinct chromosome pair with an arm ratio of 2.7 and C. platycarpus is distinct (sect. Rhynchosoides) in having the smallest ratio (1.36) between the longest and the shortest chromosomes. 4C DNA amounts in Cajanus and Rhynchosia vary between 3.28 pg to 11.69 pg and 4.92 pg to 11.13 pg respectively, while in Dunbaria, Flemingia and Paracalyx these vary between 4.70 and 7:06 pg. In the genus Cajanus karyotypic features and 4C DNA amounts agree with the sectional classification and bring out a close relationship between C. cajan and C. cajanifolius. This is supported by studies based on seed protein patterns, isozyme analysis, trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitor patterns, RFLP and RAPD data and crossability relationships. A clear relation between DNA amount and abnormalities effecting the extent of pairing and recombination in interspecific hybrids shows the importance of this study in developing future breeding programme involving C. cajan and its wild relatives that are of potential value.     

Effect of some fungicide seed treatments on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybean [Glycine max. (L) Merr.]

Several commercial fungicide seed treatments were evaluated for their possible effect on the survival of Bradyrhizobium japonicum on seeds and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans in a greenhouse and a field experiment. quinolate Pro (carbendazim and oxine copper), Vitavax 200FF (carboxin and thiram), and Monceren (pencycuron) had a small effect or no effect on the survival of B. japonicum and on the nodulation and yield of soybeans. They can thus be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation. Germipro UFB (carbendazim and iprodione), Apron 35J (metalaxyl), and Tachigaren (hymexazol) decreased B. japonicum survival and the nodulation and yield of soybeans and thus cannot be considered compatible with soybean seed inoculation.     

Einfluss der düngungsmethoden auf die entwicklung von zuckerrübenkrankheiten

Während neunjähriger (1994-2002) Untersuchungen in der Versuchsanstalt Ba?cyny (Fahlerde, Fall-Gleyboden, ausgebildet aus leichtem Lehmboden) wurde der Befall mit Krankheiten an der Zuckerrübe in Abhängigkeit von der Düngungsmethode bewertet. Folgende Methoden wurden angewendet: A - Mineraldünger, B - Stalldung und Mineraldünger, C - Stroh-, Gründung und Mineraldünger, D - Kompostdünger und Biopräparate (ökologische Düngung). Auf den Objekten A, B, C wurden bei konstanter Phosphor-Kalium-Düngung die Stickstoffgaben von 0 bis 180 kg.ha^?1 differenziert. Auf dem ökologischen Objekt D ohne Mineraldünger wurden statt Stickstoff die Biopräparate P₅₀₀ und P₅₀₁ verabreicht. Der geringste Befall von Krankheiten wurde an der Zuckerrübe auf jenem Objekt festgestellt, das mit Kompost und den Biopräparaten gedüngt worden war. Im Rahmen der konventionellen Düngungsmethoden wurde allgemein die höchste Intensität der Krankheiten an der mit Stroh, Gründung und Mineraldünger gedüngten Zuckerrübe beobachtet. Ausnahmen von dieser Regel bildete das Vorkommen von echtem Mehltau und Keimlingsfäule. Auf den Objekten A, B, C nahm die Intensität der Krankheiten mit der Steigerung der Stickstoffgabe zu. Auch die auf Objekt D verabreichten Biopräparate stimulierten die Entwicklung der Krankheiten. The effect of various fertilization methods on the diseases of sugar beet was estimated on the basis of nine-year studies (1994-2002) conducted in the Experimental Production Farm in Ba?cyny on loess-based, sedimentary-gley, light-clay soil. The following fertilization methods were applied: A - mineral fertilization, B - mineral and manure fertilization, C - straw, green manure and mineral fertilization, D - ecological compost and biodynamic preparations fertilization. In the objects A, B and C fertilized with phosphorus and potassium, various doses of nitrogen ranging from 0 to 180 kg/ha^?1 were used. In the ecological object D, where mineral fertilization was not used, biodynamic preparations P₅₀₀ and P₅₀₁ were applied instead of nitrogen. The lowest ratio of the diseases of sugar beet was observed in the object fertilized with the compost and biodynamic preparations. In view of the conventional fertilization methods, generally the highest incidence of diseases was noted in the sugar beet fertilized with straw, green manure and mineral fertilizers. The exception was the occurrence of powdery mildew and the black leg. In objects A, B and C the incidence of the diseases increased with the increase in nitrogen doses. The applied biodynamical preparations in the object D stimulated the development of diseases too.     

Prospects for control of Pythium damping-off of lettuce with Trichoderma,Gliocladium and Enterobacter spp.

Summary Damping-off of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) caused by Pythium ultimum was studied in pots containing a non-sterile potting mix in the glasshouse. Fifty P. ultimum sporangia g^-1 compost reduced the plant stand to 15% and shoot dry weight to 18%, but this reduction was totally prevented by applying Trichoderma harzianum at 2×10⁵ viable propagules g^-1 potting mix. Gliocladium virens and Enterobacter cloacae also alleviated the damping-off. E. cloacae did not adversely affect the action of the fungal antagonists. The co-existence of the bacterial and fungal antagonists was revealed on the root surface and inner surface of the testa by scanning electron microscopy, indicating the compatibility of the biocontrol agents.     

细菌、真菌及植物氮营养信号研究进展

氮素吸收代谢是所有生物生命活动的核心部分,因此,各种生物对氮的吸收与同化过程都有精细的调节。这种调节依赖于生物对体内氮素状况信号及体外（生长介质中）氮素信号的感受。过去几十年中,在细菌、真菌中已经对氮素营养信号有了较好的研究,而植物中则相对缓慢,但也有了一定的认识。本文重点比较细菌、真菌及植物中氮信号系统的组成,以期为进一步认识植物中的氮信号接受与转导系统提供启示。     

Aircraft operations near concentrations of birds in Antarctica: The development of practical guidelines

Aircraft operations have the potential to disturb and to impact negatively on bird life. A gradient of increasing behavioural response is evident in birds when exposed to increasing aircraft stimulus. The most major disturbance is likely to lead to impacts on the health, breeding performance and survival of individual birds, and perhaps bird colonies. A process of revision to policies on aircraft operations contained in management plans for a number of specially protected areas in Antarctica by the United Kingdom, accompanied by consultations made within the scientific community through the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and with operational interests through the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP) resulted in new guidelines being adopted by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties in June 2004. The principal recommendations of the guidelines are that bird colonies should not be overflown below 2000 ft (∼610 m) above ground level and landings within 1/2 nautical mile (∼930 m) of bird colonies should be avoided wherever possible. These guidelines are less stringent and less specific than those that were recommended by the SCAR specialist group on birds, and represent a compromise to accommodate operational needs. While the adoption of clear and consistent guidelines for the operation of aircraft in Antarctica is welcome in that this provides practical advice that is likely to reduce incidences of close aircraft/bird encounters, there remains insufficient knowledge of the interactions between aircraft and birds in Antarctica, and the consequent impacts on individual birds and on bird populations. It is important, therefore, that the guidelines adopted are considered interim, and should be kept under scrutiny with revisions made as new and improved research results appear.     

Potential of wild species for genetic enhancement of some semi-arid food crops

Discovery and incorporation of genes from wild species provide means to sustain crop improvement, particularly when levels of resistance in the cultigens are low and virulent strains of pests and pathogens overcome the host plant resistance. The extent of utilization and the potential of the wild genepool for genetic enhancement were reviewed in five important food crops viz. sorghum, pearl millet, chickpea, pigeonpea and groundnut grown in the semi-arid tropics. Introgression from compatible wild germplasm in the primary gene pool resulted in transfer of new cytoplasmic male sterility systems in pearl millet and pigeonpea, development of high protein, cleistogamous flower and dwarf pigeonpea lines and foliar disease resistant groundnut cultivars. Utilization of wild species in secondary and tertiary gene pools has been generally limited due to sterility, restricted recombination or cross incompatibility. Nevertheless, these species are extremely important as they contain high levels of resistance to several important biotic and abiotic stresses. Several of them, like those belonging to the Parasorghum section and the rhizomatous Arachis species are sources of multiple resistances and hold great promise to sustain crop productivity.